Decorated sheet metal



JuTy 13,1926. 5 1

M. H. CONNOR DECORATED SHEET riETAL Filed Nov. 19, 1925 Patented July'13, 1926'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTHA H. CONNOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE Tm DECORAT- ING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF N EW JERSEY.

DECOBATED SHEET METAL.

Application flied November 19. 1925. Serial No. 70,179.

This invention is an improvement .in decorated sheet metal, and in methods of producing the same, and more particularly in the production of sheet metal especially 6 adapted for the making of containers such as are used for toilet articles and the like.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a method of decorating sheets of metal and the like with de- 10 signs, wherein selected portions of the (lesigns are provided by the ornamental surface of the sheet.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sheet having a suitable design thereon, wherein selected portions of the design are provided by the color tinted crystallized surface of the sheet.

I Another object is the provision of a sheet having a crystallized surface providing selected portions of a design printed thereon.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the article, in the method and the several steps thereof,

as hereinafter defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings is" shown the representation ofa part of a sheet, showing the va rious steps .of the ,method.

In. carrying out the method, a sheet of suitable material as for instance tin is r0- vided with a so called crystallized sur ace, which surface is afterwards coated with a transparent coating of a suitable tint, upon which the design is printed in silhouette.

The plain surface of the sheet, indicated at 1, is first. cleansed by treating with an alkali as for instance by dipping in a potash solution, or in any other suitable man- .4 ner. The clean surface is then lightly treated with an acid solution, and the so called crystallized surface indicated at 2 is pro duced.

The surface so provided is coated with a transparent aniline color preferably by a lithographic press. The coating lndlcated' at 3 being transparent, the markings of the plate surface, that is the crystallization, show through, and the color may be varied in accordance with the purpose for which the plate is to be used, and in accordance with -the design which is to be printed thereon.

After. the surface has been so prepared,

.usually a lithographic process.

'tions of the design. asfor instance the high that in the present instance the background the design is impressed thereon This A lithographic printing plate is prepared, and the design is lithogrnphed in the usual mauner, but in silhouette, so that'selected porlights are provided by the crystallized surface. This latter step is shown at iin thedrawings, and it will be obvious from a consideration of.the portion 4 of the plate is blocked out, leaving the high lights in the tin-ted crystallized surface.

The design is in the nature of silhouette, having the high lights without color, or open, and the shadows of opaque 7 color, so that when impressed upon the cystallized surface the open parts of the design a pear in said surface, said surface being locked out to provide the shadows. The term silhouette or shadow outline is used, because a shadow or at least the heavy shadows are blocked out, While the high lights are open.

The design is of a character such that it will appear to the best advantage in the finished article; As for instance when circular boxes are to be made,the design will be circular to conform with the box.

Preferably the dimensions ofthe design are such that a margin of tinted crystallized surface will enclose the design, and when'for instance the article to bemade is a box top, the side wall ofthe top also will be of the tinted crystallized surface. If display matter such as printing is to appear on the article such matter is very conveniently produced by open printing, so that the letters or other display matter appear in the tinted crystallized surface. After the design has been printed, a suitable blank is cut from the sheet, and, formed into the article, the forming of the article being carried out in such manner as to conform with the design' and emphasize the same. In box tops for instance the design may occupy a depressed portion in the top, enclrcled by a. bead like frame.

I claim: 7

1. The method of decorating sheet metal, which consists in cleaning the surface with an alkali, treating the surface with an acid to provide a crystallized "or galvanized effect, coating with a transparent color,.and

which Consists in providing a surface there of with a crystallized eii'ect, coating with a transparent color, and impressing thereon a design wherein the shadows are in an opaque color.

3. As an articl of manufacture, decorated sheet metal, with a crystallized transparent color coated surface having imprinted thereon an open design with selected. parts thereof formed by the tinted crystallized background.

4. As an article of manufacture, decorated sheet metal'with a crystallized transparent color coated surface having imprint ed thereon a design wherein the shadows are formed by an opaque color blocking out the crystallized tinted surfacefect, coating the crystallized surface with a transparent aniline color, and imprinting on the coating a design wherein parts there of are in an opaque color harn'ionizing with the color of the coating and blotting out said coating.

6. The method of decorating sheet metal having a crystallized surface effect, which consists in coating the surface with a transparent color, and imprinting on the coating a design wherein the shadows are in an opaque color and the high lights open to display the crystallized surface.

Signed at Baltimore in the State of Maryland this l7th day of Novei'nber,'A. D. 1925.

MARTHA H. CONNOR. 

